Accounting graduates, have broader choices and specific paths to follow with their careers. Accounting requires a lot of skills when it comes to business and that is why every company has an employee that is an accounting graduate. If you are an accounting graduate, you can apply in any kind of firm. Areas may include tax, audit, financial analysis and management accounting.

It is best that you apply for a job that matches your interests and expertise. There are careers that have been proven by most accounting graduates to bring them to the top of the success ladder and you may want to consider entering these fields.

If you are an accounting graduate who excel in public accounting, the entry-level positions that best fit this skill are Tax Staff, Consulting/ Management Services and Staff Auditor. With these positions you will do your duties reporting to a senior. Once you have acquired three to six years of experience in any of these positions, you may then want to consider applying for the higher levels like Tax Senior, Senior Auditor, and Consulting Senior where the position entails reporting directly to a Manager. After six years of excelling with these potions, then you may consider the positions Partner level and Senior Partner.

Having an edge with corporate accounting, one to three years of experience will qualify you to become a staff member in Internal Audit, Tax Accounting, Management, and Financial Accounting. Moving up the higher lever after three to six years, you will be eligible for the Senior Level for Internal Audit, Tax Accounting and Management Accounting. Six years thereafter, you may want to consider aiming for the positions like the Tax Manager, Internal Audit Manager and Financial Accounting Manager.

Expertise in Financial Management, Staff for Financial Planning, Cash Management, and Credit Analysis are options for entry-level positions. Once you have gained the enough experience, you may aim for the Treasury Operations, Credit Analysis and Senior Financial Planning. Higher positions will include Treasurer, Manager for Credit Analysis and Financial Planning.

These career options are traditional paths that were found to fit best for accounting graduates. However, it does not mean that they are the only way to climb up the success ladder. You should go beyond not just limit your skills to accounting. It is still recommended that you gain enough work experience, acquire knowledge in different aspects of education, and continue to improve your character to be a step ahead with other job seekers.

Are you a fresh graduate and planning to look for a job? Did you just recently quit your job and are looking for greener pastures? Are you unemployed and have little experience regarding ways to secure a job? Whatever your situation may be, it would be to your advantage to study the following tips:

Check your resume for mistakes

Before submitting your resume to a prospective employer, check your resume for corrections at least three times before handing it over. After researching about the job position, it is critical that you format your resume to match the needs of the company. For example, if you are applying for an accounting job, you should put in detail your accounting experience on your resume. Typographical and grammatical errors are serious no-no’s. It is also ideal to keep the length of the resume’ to at least a page and a half long.

Taking the interview challenge

A survey conducted by a staffing and consulting firm based in California which corresponded with 1,400 chief financial officers concluded that candidates for employment made most of their mistakes on their interviews. Some of the mistakes they made include: arriving late, having little knowledge about the company and the position applied for, and having a superiority complex and behaving arrogantly. The body language of the applicant must also denote that he is confident yet not overpowering. He must maintain eye contact, have a strong handshake, and avoid looking defensive by the act of crossing the arms. Wearing the right clothes is crucial for projecting a confident stance. As they say, it is better to go to an interview over-dressed than being under-dressed.

Answer questions smartly

A common mistake of interviewees is that they tend to get tense and forget the questions that are given to them, which has the effect that they are not prepared for the interview. It is important to research about the company and the position applied for to prevent being side-tracked during the interview. If you do not know the answer to the questions being asked, it is better to admit you don’t know the answer to the question and add that you can research about it. Look for the skills or expertise that the company is looking for so that when interview day comes and the interviewer asks about your strengths and core competencies, you will be able to match it to what they need.

Getting the necessary referrals

Having a referral from one of the company employees can go a long way toward landing an interview. A typical company may receive job applications in the hundreds and usually 35% to 60% of all job vacancies are filled by referrals. The odds of getting hired when you have a referral are very high if you have another 200 to 500 applicants vying for the same position. If you do not know anyone from the company that may give you a referral, it is a good idea to the alumni network of your college, trade groups, social networks, and professional associations. Remember, having a referral greatly increases your chances of getting the position.

On online application

With the current trend of technology and its merging with business processes, more and more companies are now requiring prospective applicants to submit their application online. Thus, first impressions are relayed not by your first appearance but by the quality and content of your e-mail. E-mails regarding job application should be polished and well-articulated. When applying on-line, use the following tips:

Complete your sentences and do not abbreviate.

Employers do not like when you send them application letters that seem to be too casual. It is important to make a letter that is both formal and well written. This gives a good impression regarding your capabilities and skills.

Get directly to the point

When writing an application letter, you must be concise and straightforward. Do not put a story on the letter just to get the attention of the employer, chances are he or she will just get irritated with you and this only reduces your chances of getting hired.

Consider potential issues that may hinder you from getting the job

Although there are instances wherein there is a lot of need for a job but the requirements for the position may entail training programs that may bar you from getting the position due to its highly competitive nature. Some require a lot of experian even at least 3 years of work experience. Some may have no barriers to entry but the job itself may entail a very routine work flow.

Getting the job you want may be a challenge but never lose hope. It is better to wait a while and get the job that you will enjoy rather than get a job as soon as possible but ending up dissatisfied and unhappy. Make the right decision then act on it.

In the movie “You’ve Got Mail”, the sub-plot aside from the love angle is that the heroine (played by Meg Ryan) was forced out of business when the big-time bookstore owner (played by Tom Hanks) moved into town.

Meg’s character owned a quaint little bookstore which she inherited from her mother. Although the prices of her books were a little steep, she makes up for it in service. She packs the books in a specialized bag, and she knows all of her customers by name.

Tom’s character, on the other hand, moved into town to build a branch of a big chain-bookstore which offered discounted prices and a huge building, as compared to Meg’s little bookshop on one corner of the town’s streets.

In the end, Meg was forced out of business because her customers went to Tom’s monstrous bookshop.

Nowadays, this situation will not hold true anymore.

More and more small organizations are paving the way and giving big businesses a shot of their own medicine.

In the movie, the reason why Meg Ryan was forced out of business is because she cannot profit anymore. Her prices are steep as compared to the other big business’ discounted rates.

Her only edge is that she gives personal service, she knows her customers by name and she has a very small staff, about 2 or 3 employees.

As a small organization you may turn around and have these qualities as your edge to compete against the big sharks in business.

Here are some tips on how you can hold your own against a big business:

1. Small businesses have big competition.

This means that you need to know how to survive out there.

No matter what nature of business you have, it is better to learn about the competition so that you will be able to survive.

Here are some tips on how you can survive the big competition:

>Keep your business alive.

When it seems as if your cash flow is in a downward slope, keep a tight rein on your budget.

Do not spend on unnecessary business purchases and always balance your books.

If you are one to buy on impulse or if you are the type to listen to those who sweet-talk you into purchasing “necessary” items, control yourself.

Get a second and third opinion if possible, as these impulsive buys may lead to the end of your small organization.

>Do not be afraid to seek professional help.

The fall of most small businesses start with decisions on problems which are not carefully analyzed.

Although you think that you already have a contingency plan, make sure that you have foreseen the results of a certain business decision.

In the long run, it is better to seek professional help rather than embark on a plan that could start the downfall of your business.

>Keep your books straight.

The better option is for you to hire a professional outside accountant to figure the returns of your investment and handle the other financial aspects of your business.

>Take advantage of every free business counseling whenever available.

This does not just help widen your knowledge, but it will also give you an idea of how other businesses are ran by small-scale owners.

>Know exactly where your business is headed.

In your day-to-day operation, make sure that you know where you want your company to be 5 or 10 years from now.

Be always aware of the trends in the industry that you are in, practice good money management and learn how to recognize potential problems before they arise.

2. Learn how to market your small organization.

Marketing is not about trying to sell your products and services to everyone.

It is about knowing who to market your products to.

In marketing, it is good to remember these fast facts:

> Know about your customers.

>Communicate with your customers.

>Build a good and personalized relationship with your customers.

This will be a great edge for you to have against the bigger companies.

They might offer discounted prices but it is harder for them to keep track of customers on a more personal basis.

>Do not stop the marketing process.

As a small organization, you need to routinely review the markets that you need to pursue so that you can better reach out to your customers.

Remember, small organizations are big businesses these days so do not be afraid to work hard for the company that you have – not matter how small.

If you work hard, make wise business decisions, learn how to market your small business and personalize your customer interaction, your small-scale business is sure to rise to the top.

You may find it hard to use networking to find a job if you can’t rely on your warm contacts to give you the information you need. At times, you would have to ask your warm contacts to refer you to at least two people that they know who will be able to give you the information you needed.

However, there are times that your warm contact, particularly those who don’t know you well, may not readily provide you with the information. Some of your warm contacts may feel reluctant about vouching for you to their other contacts.

Because of this, you may find it difficult to use your network. To make networking and getting referrals an easy task for you, here are a few tips.

* Nurture your warm contacts.

Before you even need your warm contacts or before you even ask for help, keep in touch with your warm contacts. You may send notes or greetings from time to time, call to “catch up” on them, invite them to lunch, be interested or help in their business or do anything just to cultivate your connection with them.

In this way, by the time you need help, they can remember you and can more readily give information about their other contacts that will be able to help you.

* Be polite.

Since you might not have close personal relationships with some of your valuable warm contacts, it is inappropriate to just give them a call and ask them for information about your field of interest.

Sometimes, sending a note in advance, or asking to meet them for lunch is a better way to ask for their help.

* Listen to them.

Most of the time, even if your warm contact knows little in the field where you are trying to find a job, they might offer you advice. Be polite and interested in what they are saying. Who knows, the information that they are giving may be valuable to you in the future.

There are times that your warm contacts may be telling you tips on what manner will work best when you talk to the persons to whom you are being referred. Your warm contacts may also imply what qualities and qualifications the person is looking for.

* Ask for at least two referrals.

Before you ask for referrals, make sure that your warm contact had said everything that he or she can say about your field of interest.

Even if they know little about that field, it is impolite if you cut them short while they are speaking to ask if they know somebody who will be able to help you.

If they weren’t able to refer you to at least one of their contacts, thoughtfully ask them why they couldn’t do so. They may give you answers that may include indirect comments or suggestions. They may also indicate a lack of confidence in your work strategy. If this is so, you may have to make follow ups with them to prove that you are indeed credible and match their requirements.

However, there are also times when they can’t refer you to their contacts because they just don’t know anybody who might have the information or might be interested in the product.

In this case, ask them to keep their eyes open for opportunities that you might be interested in. You can also leave with them copies of your resume.

* Just ask for two referrals.

Two referrals are enough from each warm contact. This is to have another option in case the first one didn’t work out. Asking for more than two referrals could be impolite as it can take much time from your warm contact. Also, that will make your warm contact feel that you are relying mostly on him or her for your job search. So, unless they volunteer the information, don’t ask for more than 2 referrals.

* Contact referrals as soon as possible.

When your warm contacts give you referrals, there are times that they also call these people personally to give more information about you. On the other hand, when you contact the people to whom you were referred, your referrals may call your warm contacts to verify the information or to ask more information about you.

Either way, you have to contact your referrals soon enough that these people can still remember their conversation with your warm contact, or your warm contact can still remember that you have talked.

At times, after your referrals were called by your warm contacts, they anticipate your call and even prepare questionnaires and exams for you to take. Do not waste this opportunity by delaying follow-up on referrals.

Keeping these tips in mind will be able to help you in asking for good referrals from your warm contacts.

Just because you are a teen doesn’t mean you can’t find a good job to either help you through schooling or to get a few extra bucks for your various hobbies and needs. Here are a few tips on bagging a great teen job

Labor Laws
You, of course, have to follow the law. And there are various laws that govern teen employment across different states. Teens that are hired to do non-farm work will at least have to be fourteen years of age to be allowed to work. Here are a few other restrictions. You will have to do a little research in the state you are at to come up to date with the latest laws and regulations.

Teens that are aged 14 to 15 are only allowed to work three hours per day, and eighteen hours a wee. When there are no classes and during summer breaks, this amount may be increased to eight hours per day, 40 hours per week. Also work for teenagers of this age is limited to up to 7 o’clock p.m. within school days and 9 o’clock p.m. during summer breaks.

Employment Documents
In several states, when one has not reached the age of eighteen yet, it is required get working documents which are officially known as Certificate of Employment or Age to be allowed to work legally. Schools are good venues for one to acquire these important papers. The Department of Labor offers such service, too. Browse on the certification list for Age or Employment to know which rules apply to you. Your school’s Guidance Office can be of great help. One’s state office will assist greatly if one is directed to the Department of Labor. Particular states such as New York, for instance, have special web site sections on Youth Jobs, which will produce the information and documents you are required to have.

Fantasy Jobs
Make sure you take a job you can maintain interest in. You might want to consider after-school programs and working with kids. Or you may want to work part time on the beach, recreational facilities, zoos and other areas. The important thing is that you choose a job that you enjoy and can perform in with the best of your capabilities. It is very important that you do your best in your job and pick one you truly enjoy, as your experience with this job could very well dictate your future career.

Job Search
Your high school guidance counselor may be able to assist you with finding a part-time job that is just right for you. Aside from having contacts among local businesses, they may also help you evaluate which jobs you will enjoy and excel at.

It is also a good idea to tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Don’t underestimate your network of acquaintances. They may very well have other networks of acquaintances that may help you find good jobs.

Are you in search of a job? If you are, there is a good chance that you will enter a number of local establishments, retail or not, to submit a job application or your resume. Many professionals recommend submitting job applications and resumes in person whenever possible. In most instances, you will have your resume accepted and you will be told that you will be contacted for a job interview in the future. However, you may receive a spontaneous job interview in some instances. If and when that time comes, do you know what you should do?

Before focusing on what you should do or how you should handle spontaneous job interviews, it is first important that you familiarize yourself with them. Spontaneous job interviews come in a number of different formats. For instance, a manager may ask you to come in for a job interview that that day or the following day. Although you are given some notice, many are unable to prepare as much as they would have liked to for an interview that is scheduled right away. Speaking of right away, you may also find yourself having a job interview right on the spot. This is not uncommon, especially in retail. Essentially, a spontaneous job interview is one that is schedule at the last minute or without a large notice.

As nice as last minute or spontaneous job interviews are, they can be scary and overwhelming for many. With that mind, you should know that there are both a number of advantages and disadvantages to spontaneous or last minute job interviews. One of those benefits is the need. If an employer is looking to interview you right on the spot or if they are looking to set up a job interview as soon as possible, there is a good chance that they need to hire an employee right away. This vital need can significantly increase your chances of getting a job. With that in mind, the biggest con or downside to spontaneous interviews or last minute job interviews is the lack of preparation.

Although spontaneous or last minute job interviews do make preparation difficult, there are a number of steps that you can take to prepare for them, just in case. For starters, you may want to ensure that you are properly dressed. Even if you are just submitting your job application or your resume, you will want to make sure that your appearance is professional in nature, especially if you are submitting your resume or job application in person. A manager who decided to offer you a job interview right away should expect you to be a little bit unprepared, but why not take a few extra steps, like putting on a nice outfit, to show them that you can be prepared for just about anything.

As previously stated, many job seekers prefer spontaneous or last minute job interviews, while others tend to fear them. To prepare for the possibility of a spontaneous or a last minute job interview, you will want to take the time to do a little bit of preparation. This preparation may involve having a mock interview with your friends or family members, using the internet to research common job interview questions and so forth. Taking a few minutes or a few hours, at the most, to prepare for a job interview, even if one has yet to be scheduled, will do no harm. In fact, it is likely that you would take these approaches later on, so why not get a little bit of a head start with doing so?

The above mentioned points are all points that you will want to take into consideration, when you decide to submit your resume or your job application in person. As nerve-wracking as last minute or spontaneous job interviews can be, you will want to refrain from turning any down, as they can, literally, be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Skills refer to the things you do well. The key to finding the most appropriate jobs in the industry is recognizing your own skills and communicating the significance written and verbally to a probable employer.

Majority of the most viable skills are those that are used in a variety of work settings. What are these skills? Would matching your skills to find the right job be successful?

* Determine your skills. This would help you in becoming the lead candidate of landing the job. A skill does not necessarily mean it was adapted in a work environment. If this would be your first job hunt and you have no job experience to date, you still have a chance in the industry.

Majority of skills, including knowledge-based and transferable, could be absorbed and developed as a volunteer, a student, a homemaker, or in your other personal activities. The skills you have used for these activities can still be applied to your desired jobs.

First, you should categorize the skills by separating your interests and aptitudes from your work experience.

1) Aptitudes and interest. These include all of your hobbies, activities you have been involved in the past, and all the things that interest you. By listing all of these down, you could examine the skills it takes to achieve each item.

Skills from aptitude and interest may be homemaking, playing basketball, fixing cars and many more. All of these items could determine if you are capable of working with a team, able to handle multiple tasks, have viable knowledge of human development, knowledge of electronics and ability to diagnose mechanical and numerical problems. The list goes on, but make sure to consider the skills that would be beneficial for a working environment.

2) Work history. This includes volunteer, part-time, freelance, summer and full time jobs. Once you have listed all your past employment, examine the skills you do work each work duty.

* Ask for help. As soon as you have your list ready, you could now go to job services that could help you acquire your desired job. You could also search job yourself. However, always remember to match your skills and abilities in your list to the needed skills and abilities of various jobs.

In most cases, people who seek jobs are threatened with job titles. This should not be the case. As long as your skills and abilities could meet the requirements of the workload and job title, your possibility of acquiring your desired job increases.

Have you recently decided that you would like to change jobs? If you would like to seek employment elsewhere, you will want to start examining job listings right away. In fact, the sooner the better.

When it comes to applying for jobs, you will find that you have a number of different options. One of those options involves the internet. Unfortunately, when it comes to job searching online, many are afraid to do so or are even unsure as to how they should proceed. If you are wondering if you should use the internet to help you find a job, the answer is yes.

As previously stated, you have a number of different options when it comes to finding and applying for jobs. What is nice about the internet is that it, alone, gives you an unlimited number of options. Did you know that there are multiple ways that you can go about using the internet to research companies that may or may not be hiring, as well as ways to examine online job listings?

One of the easiest ways that you can use the internet to your advantage, when looking to find a new job, is by visiting online websites that are commonly referred to as career search websites. Career search websites are websites that enable you to browse, as well as search through a large databank of job openings. Most career search websites also enable you to search for a particular job, such as a retail manager, as well search in or around particular cites, like your place of residence. Career job searching websites can easily be found with standard internet searches.

In addition to career search websites, you may also be able to use websites that are commonly referred to as job posting websites. These websites are similar to career search websites, but not all will allow you to search for specific jobs in specific areas. What is nice about job posting websites is that not only companies post their job openings. Occasionally, you will find posts made by other internet users outlining an interesting job listing that they came across online. Although the job listing may not be directly from the company in question, you are often provided with the proper contact information.

You can also use the internet to find jobs to apply for by visiting the online websites of local businesses. You can easily find these online websites by performing a standard internet search. Your standard internet search should include the names of each business, as well as the city or state that they are located in. Should the businesses in question have online websites, you will want to look for career or employment sections. It is common for businesses with online websites to list any job openings that they have, as well as provide information on those jobs and how you can go about applying for them.

As with anything that you do online, you are also advised to proceed with caution when searching for career opportunities online. Unfortunately, internet scams are on the rise. It is possible to find internet scams that are focused on employment opportunities. For that reason, you will want to know as much as you can about each and every company that you decide to submit a job application or an online resume to, especially if you are being asked to provide your social security number. If you have never, personally, heard of the company in question before, you may want to research them online. If you still come up empty handed, it may be a wise decision to move onto other job listings.

Are you in the process of finding a new job? If you are, you may have job interviews already lined up. In fact, you may have already had a number of job interviews take place. If that is the case, did you follow up with the interviewer or the employer in question? If follow-up contact, such as a telephone call, is an action that you have yet to take, you may want to examine your options.

When it comes to determining whether or not you should follow-up on all job interviews that you have had, like with a quick office visit or telephone call, there are many job seekers who are unsure as to how they should proceed. Since many are unsure of the action that they should take, many just do nothing. If you would like help in determining what you should do after attending a job interview, you will want to continue reading on, as a number of advantages and disadvantages to job interview follow ups are outlined below.

As for the advantage to follow-ups with the employer or interviewer in question, you will find that there are a number of them. One of those advantages is the impression that you can create of yourself. Checking to see how the selection process is coming along or if you can answer any additional questions is a great way to show that you are truly interested in the open job position. It also shows initiative on your part. This is something that many companies look for in their new hires.

Another one of the many advantages to following up after a job interview is the answers that you may get. If the employer in question has yet official make a decision, but your name is still in the running, you may be told to call back later or wait for a phone call, which should arrive when a decision has been made. On the other hand, if it has been determined that you are not the right candidate for the job, you may be notified of this when you make your first contact attempt. This notification is ideal as it encourages you to explore your other options without wasting any precious time.

Although there are a number of advantages to following up after a job interview, you will also find that there are a number of disadvantages to doing so as well. As previously stated, an interview follow-up may help to create a good impression of yourself. What you need to know, however, is that this impression can work both ways. Some employers view follow-up phone calls as unnecessary distractions. If you were told to wait until you heard from the company, you will want refrain from making any follow-up contact, as your actions can have negative results.

The above mentioned advantages and disadvantages are just a few of the many to job interview follow-ups. As previously stated, you will want to try and make sure that you follow the advice or instructions given to you by each employer or interviewer. This means that if you are asked to refrain from making contact, you will want to do so. It is also advised that you avoid calling during known busy times, such as lunch or right before the workday ends.

Are you in need of a job? If you are, you will likely start examining all of the open jobs in your around your area, possibly even right away. When doing so, you may be surprised with what you see. Depending on where you reside, you may have hundreds or even thousands of job listings to sort through. While doing so, there are many individuals who make the decision to apply to as many jobs as they possibly can, but should you do the same?

When it comes to determining whether or not you should apply to all of the jobs that you come across, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration. One of those factors is your work related experience, training, and education. This is essentially the career field that you specialize in. For instance, if you have experience working the medical field, a job listing for an automotive technician may not be right for you, and visa versa. While you may want to apply for as many jobs as possible, you will want to try and make sure that they are ones that you are somewhat qualified for.

Another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when applying for jobs, is location. If you use your local newspaper to examine job listings, you will likely find that most job listings are for local positions only. On the other hand, if you use the internet, namely career searching or job posting websites, you may be presented with job listings from all across the country. As nice as a job may sound, you will want to refrain from applying for it if you cannot attend an interview or if you have no intention or relocating.

Another one of the many factors that you should take into consideration, when trying to determine how many jobs you should apply for, is your need for a job. If you are currently unemployed and not receiving any unemployment compensation, you may need to find a job right away. This is particularly important if you have bills piling up or if you have a family to support. If that is the case, you may want to increase your chances of finding a job by applying for as many jobs as you can. With that in mind, remember to only submit your resume or job application for job positions that you are somewhat qualified for.

The impression that you will end up creating is another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to apply for as many jobs as possible. What you will want to remember is that it can reflect poorly upon you if you are regularly found to be submitting job applications or resumes to companies that you are unqualified for. It can be harmful to your good name and reputation. This is particularly important if you submit multiple job applications to the same company, but for different jobs, namely ones in which you are not qualified for.

The above mentioned points are points that you will want to take into consideration, when determining how many jobs you should apply for and which ones. In all honesty, you are advised to just use your best judgment, as it is one of the best guides to follow.